The Balls.ie Top 30 Irish Sporting Moments (#10-1)

Belfast witnessed myriad boxing achievements throughout 2017, but there was no greater achievement than Ryan Burnett's victory against  Zhanat Zhakiyanov in October. With that victory, Burnett unified the WBC and IBF world titles, and extended his record as a pro to 18-0.

Incredibly, four years ago, Burnett's split with Ricky Hatton left him homeless for six weeks, sleeping in a jeep with his father. Now, Adam Booth has unlocked Burnett's talent, and 2017 was the year he established himself as a bona fide star.

One of 2016’s low points was when a visibly devastated Katie Taylor looked the Irish public dead in the eye through RTE’s camera and confess “It's been a very, very tough year.”

Thankfully, 2017 saw a change in fortunes as Taylor made her pro debut, won a world title and successfully defended it. Her pre-title fight preparation was less than ideal when the champion, Anahi Sanchez, twice missed weight. Eventually, it was announced the fight would go ahead with only Taylor capable of claiming the belt.

She set out to do just that and dropped Sanchez with a cannon of a body in the second round. Ironically, Taylor’s amateur career, which ended in disappointment, massively aids her ability professionally. The array of opponents she has clashed with ensure she is versatile and capable of going toe-to-toe with just about any style of fighter.

To clinch a world title in her first year as a pro is a testament to her ability. As her mother, Bridget, embraced her, the delight on Katie’s face at being crowned world champion was obvious.

Maurice Brosnan

4 - David Burke Honours Tony Keady

Sport is often dismissed as a ‘distraction.’ A brief interlude from the banality of life. In actual fact, it is so much more than that. It is a coping mechanism, a uniting vehicle, and as David Burke demonstrated, a superb platform for a tribute.

After ending a 29-year famine, Burke took centre stage to deliver his All-Ireland final victory Speech. He then paid tribute to the late Tony Keady, who passed away at 53 just a month earlier.

“Twenty-nine years ago, this man was man of the match in the All-Ireland final of 1988. It would be remiss of me not to mention his name — the great Tony Keady.

To Tony’s wife Margaret, children Shannon, Anthony, Jake and Harry, we’re hoping that lifting the cup today will give you some solace from your grief, if only for a few seconds.”

Keady was the at the heart of one of Galway’s greatest sides of all time. His loss shocked the county and his family were involved in the on field celebrations. Burke also paid tribute to Niall Donohue, who died tragically in 2013.

Burke paired the high of sport with the tragic lows life guarantees, it was a class act and a superb reminder of sport's power.

Maurice Brosnan

3 - Dean Rock wins another All-Ireland for Dublin

Longing on a large scale makes history, and this year, Dean Rock nervelessly added another chapter to Mayo's. Diarmuid Connolly, who had haunted the championship while barely playing, ended up winning it: he was fouled in the dying minutes of the final, and having initially hinted at taking it, he elected to place it for Dean Rock.

Rock - having missed the free in the final minute of the National League final - made no mistake this time. He took his time, waited for the clock to tick and the GPS to intrude, before splitting the posts. He even betrayed some emotion afterward, with a curt fist-pump.

Remarkable nerves, at the end of a game which had frayed everyone else's.

Gavin Cooney

2 - Joe Canning’s point against Tipperary

The final installment of the Tipp/Galway trilogy got its perfect crescendo.The best game of the season - as part of the sport’s greatest rivalry of the decade -  was decided by a moment of genius by the sport’s greatest player. Canning’s role was redefined this year - heck, he didn’t take a shot from play in the Leinster final - but his greatness vaulted to the surface when it was needed.

Deep in injury time, Canning trotted back to take a free deep in his own half.   His original free dropped short, and forced a fine save from Darren Gleeson (named Brendan in the moment by Ger Canning). The resulting clearance found Johnny Coen and as the clock ticked past the four minutes of stoppage time, he turned back and found Canning calling for the ball.

He obliged, and in a split-second, as Tipp players descended upon him, Canning looked at the posts, dropped the ball to his stick and with - to borrow a phrase - the liquid whip of his wrist, sent the ball over, and most of the country into raptures.

Here it is, replete with some Titanic music.

Gavin Cooney

1 - James McClean's goal in Cardiff 

It is difficult to bestow upon this goal the ecstasy it deserves, having been tainted by the Danish disaster. But it was a genuinely great moment. In a crude game, Ireland decided to pick the lock. Jeff Hendrick chased a ball along the sideline, and Harry Arter fooled everyone except James McClean, who rifled the ball past Hennessy.

McClean sprinted to the Irish fans, beating his chest and kissing the crest in a kind of elated stupor: Ireland scored with virtually their first move of any substance. From there we clung on for a great victory, gloriously ignorant of what was to come.

James McClean, you absolute dancer. How about that step over from Harry Arter?!? #WALIRL#RTEsoccerpic.twitter.com/75hDzigE9L

— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) October 9, 2017

Gavin Cooney